Vikings - Wolves of Midgard

This enjoyable action-RPG "lite" game can be a fun time for you and friends, so long as you can overlook some of its technical issues. Vikings - Wolves of Midgard borrows the look and feel of Blizzard Entertainment's dungeon-crawling Diablo series, while also folding in a deep leveling system, Norse mythology, tough boss characters, and plenty of unadulterated gore. This dark adventure is accessible -- even for those fairly new to the genre -- as you simply choose a character class (each of the characters specializes in a different weapon), take on various missions from village people, follow along (mostly) large maps to reach your goal, and engage in real-time combat sequences against swaths of human enemies and creatures big and small. Battling foes might seem like "button mashing" at first but will require more thought as you advance through the game, including when to use a ranged approach instead of a melee attack, retreating and reentering the fight, taking health boosts, and powering up your weapon of choice (by collecting blood from fallen enemies) before tackling a troupe of tough wolves or goblins. Plus, you don't have to go alone; Vikings - Wolves of Midgard offers an online cooperative (co-op) option, where more than one class can team up and play together throughout each quest.

Visually, the game isn't bad, with detailed fighters, enemies, locations, special effects, weather (such as snowy mountains), and lighting enhancements, but the animation sometimes looks stiff or silly, and the environments are repeated often (a frozen/snowy look). Dramatic slow-motion effects often kick in when you're taking out groups of enemies and earning a "double kill" bonus or chained hits streak. But probably the biggest issue with the game is the predictable enemy AI (artificial intelligence) or lack thereof, so it can be somewhat boring to fight through. Plus, the camera can sometimes obscure your view of a band of baddies, making it harder to fight enemies. Overall, the game isn't a home run, but it's pretty entertaining. Vikings - Wolves of Midgard will likely satiate Diablo gamers, fans of top-down action RPG genre, and those who enjoy Norse mythology.